Accident identity kit

ABSTRACT

A documentation kit including a panel with transparent pockets for receiving documentation on the left hand side a camera and other harder solid elements in the central portion, and documentation on the left hand side. The flaps are closable over the central portion and can be closed with Velcro™.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/287,950, filed Nov. 4, 2002, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/332,036, filed Nov. 20, 2001, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This disclosure relates to motor vehicle accidents, and more particularly to systems for documenting and recording issues relating to motor vehicle accidents at the site.

2. General Background

When an automobile accident occurs there is a lot of stress and shock and possibly injury or worse. Documenting of the circumstances of such accidents for insurance or legal purposes is typically inadequate. It is useful to provide material in an easily accessible form to enable the accurate recordal of events associated with the accident. This can assist authorities, insurance companies, and the parties in resolving issues and possibly avoiding conflicting events.

Different kits are known for provision in an automobile or the like.

Some kits are known to document accidents but they are complex and not user friendly.

This disclosure is directed to overcoming the limitation of existing kits and to the provision of a kit which is useful, easy to use and has essential contents to effectively document accidents. At the same time the kit is relatively inexpensive.

SUMMARY

The disclosure provides for at least one wallet like device. In the wallet there are pockets for holding one or more devices or units for recording characteristics of an accident. The wallet is preferably formed of plastic and the pockets are, at least in part, formed of a transparent element. The pockets could be welded around the edges to a plastic base and provide different sizes to hold the elements of the document identification kit. The weldings are preferably effected on three sides and there is one open side to receive components. Additionally, one or more elasticized loops are provided in the wallet for holding other elements of the kit.

Preferably the wallet is formed of essentially three substantially equal component parts, a central part for holding the more solid components of the kit, and two flat parts on either side for holding documentation. The areas between the central part and the flat part can hold one or more elongated members of the kit.

The disclosure is directed to a panel for an identification kit, the panel being foldable in two places thereby to be in folded format of at least three portions being a central portion and two side portions, one to either side of the central portion. There are means for receiving documentation on one side portion; means for receiving a camera in the central portion; means for receiving a battery; means for receiving a writing instrument; and means for receiving a measuring tape.

The panel including identification kit material which comprises the camera, a battery, a flashlight, writing instrument, documentation, a measuring tape, and a whistle. The contents are laid out with documentation paperwork in two flat side portions, and the battery, writing instrument and measuring tape being arranged around the camera. Some of the components, preferably elongated components such as the writing instrument are in the spine area between the first side portion and the central portion, and the spine area between the second side portion and the central portion.

The disclosure's further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a representation of the wallet in closed format viewed from the front.

FIG. 2 is a view partially open.

FIG. 3 is a view of the wallet opened up to show all the components for location inside the wallet.

FIG. 4 is a front face view with the wallet open and empty.

FIG. 5 is a view of a different embodiment of the wallet opened up to show all the components for location inside the wallet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A plastic base 10 measuring about twelve inches long by six inches wide is provided to form the flat area for holding the different elements of the accident identity kit. The top face 11 has rounded corners 12 and there is an appropriate trim around the outside of the corners. On the face 11 there is a central portion 13 a left handed portion 14 and a right handed portion 15. Between the portions 13 and 14 there is a spine-like rounded portion 16 and between the portion 13 and 15 there is a spine-like rounded portion 17.

On the left hand side 14 there is a transparent pocket 18 which is welded on three sides 19, 20 and 21 and has an open mouth 22. Inside that pocket there is a card 23 for indicating information about the insurance and registration of the car. If necessary this card can be removed by the user.

On the right hand side 15 there is another transparent pocket 24 which is welded on sides 25, 26 and 27 and open at the top 28. Within this pocket which is relatively longer than the pocket on the left hand flap there is a page 29 which has the necessary information that a person can complete for details about an accident

In the spine sections 16 and 17 respectively there are elasticized bands 30 a, 30 b and 31 for receiving one or more elements of the kit. In the left hand elasticized band there is contained a tape measure 32. This can be of a foldable kind and can be of plastic, paper or other suitable material.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5 the arrangement is different to that of FIG. 3, and a whistle 50 is also provided at the location otherwise occupied by the battery. The pen 33 is located in the opposite spine portion, the tape 32 is located in the central portion below the camera 37, and the battery 39 is located where the pen otherwise would have been located. The overall structure of the kit is that in both the spine areas there are elongated elements to conform generally with the spine direction. Additionally the flashlight diameter is about equal to the depth of the camera. This ensures that in the folded arrangement there is obtained a neat rectangular like package format for the kit

In the spine section 17 under the band 30 a there is a pen 33. Adjacent to the band 30 b is the elasticized band 30 b for locating a flashlight parallel to the pen 33. The pen 33 is more located in the central area and the flashlight 35 is more in the spine section.

In the central portion 13 of the panel there is the transparent pocket 36 which is welded along three sides. This pocket is relatively larger and is sufficient to hold a camera 37. The camera is already filled with film. Below the pocket 36 there is an elasticized band 38 which can hold a battery 39 in a transverse relationship below the base of the camera.

At the one edge there is a Velcro™ strip 40 which has hooks or loops and this is for engagement with the mating hooks or loops 41 on the outside face of the panel. The outside face is opposite to the panel face 11. This effectively closes the kit as such. The kit is folded in thirds and is a convenient package for fitting in a glove compartment.

Many other forms of the disclosure exist each differing from the other in matters of detail only.

Ideally the kit contains a re-loadable camera with a flash, flashlight with batteries, ball-point pen, a bilingual auto accident form, a measuring tape, photo instruction information, emergency number information, insurance and vehicle registration card, and in FIG. 5 there is a whistle.

With this disclosure and using this kit in a vehicle, it is easy for persons involved in an accident to recall details about an accident. There is less worry and confusion and the documentation is easy to complete and is relatively easily handy. The back face of the kit provides a useful surface when expanded or open so that it can be laid out on a surface, for instance a car hood, with everything easily accessible. With this arrangement the components are readily handy. The form 23 on the left hand side is used to provide instructions of completing the form on the right hand side. The tools for measuring and taking data from the accident scene and event are set out in the middle of the kit. The back or outside surface of the kit is of a nature that it will not easily slip off surfaces. Sufficient tackiness or friction is provided by the back surface or the parts of the surface which engages the underlying base, such as a smooth car hood, that slippage is inhibited. On the other hand it can be easily closed and packaged in a glove container. 

1-17. (canceled)
 18. An accident identification kit being a foldable pouch thereby to be in folded format of at least two flat side panel portions and a central portion, each side portion to a side of the central portion: a holder for receiving documentation paper work on one side portion; a holder for receiving a camera on a panel portion of the pouch; a holder for receiving a flashlight and a battery for the flashlight; a holder for receiving a writing instrument; identification kit contents comprising the components of a camera, a flashlight, a battery, writing instrument, and documentation paperwork; and the contents being laid out with documentation paperwork on a flat side portion, and the flashlight and battery, and writing instrument being arranged adjacent to the camera, some of the components being in the area of the first side portion, and the first and second side portions being opposite each other with the central portion between them, and the panel pouch in one position being capable of being laid open so that the documentation can be rendered accessible on a flat surface of one of the panels thereby to permit writing on the documentation paperwork, and in another position the pouch is folded closed.
 19. An accident identification kit including a panel, the panel being foldable in a first format so as to be in folded format of different several portions and in a second format to be opened to be in a flat format, the panel comprising: a holder for receiving documentation; a holder for receiving a camera; a holder for receiving a flashlight and a battery for the flashlight; a holder for receiving a writing instrument; a holder for receiving a measuring tape; contents including a camera, a flashlight and battery, writing instrument, documentation paperwork and measuring tape; and the contents being laid out with documentation paperwork on at least one of a flat side portion, the camera being in an adjacent position to the documentation paperwork, and other components being arranged around the camera, and at least the writing instrument being located in line with fold line between a first side portion and a central portion of the panel, and the panel in one position being capable of being laid open so that the documentation can be rendered accessible on a flat surface thereby to permit writing on the documentation, and in another position being folded closed.
 20. An accident document identification kit comprising: a pouch having a panel foldable thereby to be in folded format or an open format of at least three portions being a central portion and two side portions, one to either side of the central portion; a pocket for receiving first documentation on one side portion; an area for receiving multiple components used in measuring and recording details of an accident; a pocket for receiving a camera in the central portion; a holder for receiving a flashlight with battery; a holder for receiving a writing instrument; a holder for receiving a measuring tape; a holder for receiving a whistle; contents including a camera; flashlight with a battery; an elongated writing instrument; documentation; measuring tape; a whistle; and wherein the contents are laid out with documentation on a flat side portion, and the flashlight, writing instrument, measuring tape and whistle are arranged adjacent the camera, and the elongated writing component is parallel with a fold line between a first side portion and the central portion, and the panel in one position being capable of being laid open so that the documentation can be rendered accessible on a flat surface thereby to permit writing on the documentation, and in another position being folded closed. 